KR100344046B1 - Panel mounting system for electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for mounting an electrical connector (10, 10A, 10C) in a panel having an opening (12) with at least one positioning slot (16, 18) therein. The connector 10 includes a housing 22 insertable into an opening in the panel. The housing has at least one outwardly protruding positioning flange 34, 36 passing through the positioning slots 16, 18 of the opening when the housing is inserted into the opening. The housing has at least one outwardly projecting stop flange 38 spaced axially and transversely from the positioning flange abutting the panel when the housing is in the insertion position. The housing 22 is movable to the latching position in the opening in the panel. The latch arms 40, 40A, 40C are the same housing 22 as the positioning flanges 34, 36 and the stop flange 38 which engage the latch slots 16, 18 at the openings in the panel when the housing is in the latching position. Protrudes outward from the side surface 24.

Description

Panel mounting system for electrical connector {PANEL MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS}

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors, and more particularly to a system for mounting an electrical connector in an opening in a panel or other planar substrate.

Panel mounted electrical connectors are known in the art and such connectors generally comprise a housing equipped with a plurality of terminals for mating with a complementary connector. The housing may be mounted on a panel that is generally rigid to mate with the complementary connector through which the connector opens in the panel, or the housing may be mounted on the panel for structural or support purposes only within the circuit interconnection system.

Various means, such as mounting clips or brackets, which are operatively coupled between the connector housing and the panel to mount and hold the connector to the panel, have been used to mount the connector to the panel. In another system, after the connector housing is inserted into the insertion position through the opening in the panel, the connector is moved relative to the panel in the opening to the final mounting position where the connector is latched directly onto the connector housing by the latch means.

One of the problems with panel-mounted connectors of the aforementioned characteristics is that separate latch means for retaining the connector in an opening in the panel occupies a valuable "area" on the panel and makes the structure brittle. In other words, when the connector must be mounted in close proximity to another connector or any other structure, the latching means often cause the connector to be unnecessarily spaced away from any peripheral components due to the fragile panels. For example, the latch means comprise a heterogeneous " outboard " latch opening in the panel. Engagement flanges or protrusions are often used on one or more sides of the connector housing to retain the housing within the panel openings, and latches often protrude from another side of the connector housing to unnecessarily enlarge the connector envelope.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problem in a panel mounting system for an electrical connector, in particular a latch means for holding the connector in the final mounting position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system for mounting an electrical connector in a panel or other planar substrate.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the panel has openings with first and second sides, and at least one positioning slot extends radially from the opening. The connector has a housing that can be inserted into an insertion position of an opening in the panel along an axis from the first side of the panel. The housing includes at least one radially extending positioning flange on one side of the housing that passes through the positioning slot of the opening when the housing is inserted into the opening. The housing also includes at least one radially extending stop flange that abuts the first side of the panel and is spaced axially and transversely from the positioning flange when the positioning flange is outside the second side of the panel. The housing is movable generally parallel to the panel from the insertion position to the latching position. The latch arm protrudes from one side of the connector housing and is engageable with a latch slot extending radially from an opening in the panel when the housing is in the latching position.

As disclosed herein, the positioning slot performs a dual function and includes a latch slot for the latch arm. In one embodiment of the invention, the latching arm includes a flexible cantilevered latch arm extending generally parallel to the insertion axis of the connector housing. In a second embodiment of the invention, the latch arm comprises a flexible cantilever latch arm that extends generally parallel to the panel.

Preferably, at least one positioning flange and at least one stop flange are installed on each of two opposite sides of the connector housing. As disclosed herein, a plurality of positioning flanges and a plurality of stop flanges are installed on each of two opposite sides of the connector housing, the positioning flanges passing through a plurality of positioning slots in the openings in the panel. In a third embodiment of the invention, the latch arm comprises a flexible latch bar extending between a pair of stop flanges. The latch bar includes a tab that supports the protrusion, and the latch bar is twisted to press the protrusion to engage the latch slot.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The novel features of the invention are set forth in detail in the appended claims. The present invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be better understood by reference to the following description, which is described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a panel having a hole therein and an electrical connector insertable into the hole according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector inserted in the insertion position in the opening in the panel.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connector moved from the insertion position to the final latching position.

4 is a vertical section through the latch arm region of the connector;

5 is a perspective view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a front side view of the connector of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the connector of Figures 5 and 6, inserted in the insertion position into the opening in the panel.

Figure 8 is a plan view similar to Figure 7 with the connector moved from the insertion position to the final latching position.

9 is a perspective view of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view from behind of the connector shown in FIG. 9; FIG.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a panel having an opening for receiving the connectors of Figures 9 and 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the connector of Figures 9 and 10, inserted into the opening in the panel of Figure 11 and moved to the final latching position.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 12, seen from the opposite side of the panel.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: electrical connector

12: opening

14: Panel

16, 18: positioning slot

22: housing

24: first side wall

26: second sidewall

28: receptacle

40: latch arm

Referring first to FIG. 1, in more detail, a first embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for mounting an electrical connector 10 in an opening 12 in a panel 14. The panel has an upper side 14a and a lower side 14b. The opening is generally T-shaped so as to form a pair of elongated positioning slots 16 at opposite ends of the T-shaped intersection. A pair of further positioning slots 18 are located on each opposite side of the T-shaped leg of the opening between the ends of the opening.

The connector 10 includes a one-piece housing 20 integrally molded from a dielectric material such as plastic. The housing is box-shaped formed with a pair of first opposing sidewalls 24 and a pair of second sidewalls 26 to form a rectangular receptacle 28 for receiving a complementary mating connector. The inlet of the receptacle 28 is chamfered at the point indicated by reference numeral 28a to facilitate insertion of the mating connector therein. The housing has a bottom wall 30 (FIG. 4) on which a plurality of terminals 32 are mounted. The terminals include contact pins 32a that protrude into the receptacle 28 to mate with the terminals of the mating connector. The terminal has a tail 32b that protrudes from the lower wall 30 to the outside of the housing for insertion into a predetermined hole or other connecting device in the printed circuit board. Of course, the invention of this specification is not limited to the board-mounted connector.

All mounting and latching components on the connector housing 22 are located on the outer surface of the first sidewall 24, as shown on the outer surface of one sidewall 24, which can be seen in FIGS. 1-3. . This ensures that the outer surface of the second sidewall 26 is not obstructed at all so that the connector can be mounted in close proximity to the other components.

In particular, the positioning flanges 34, 36 protrude outwards from each side wall 24. The top of the positioning flange was chamfered to facilitate insertion of the connector into the opening in the panel. The lower portion of the positioning flange is blunt to abut the upper surface 14a of the panel 14 when the connector is in the final latching position, as described below. In addition, the three stop flanges 38 protrude outward from the outer surface of each side wall 24 to abut the lower side 14b of the panel when the connector is in the final latching position. The stop flange is spaced apart in the axial and transverse directions of the positioning flanges 34, 36. The positioning flange and the stop flange are integrally molded with the housing.

Referring to Figure 4 in conjunction with Figure 1, the integrally formed latch arm 40 also protrudes outward from the outer surface of each side wall 24. As best shown in Fig. 4, each latch arm is cantilevered from each side wall so that the latch arm can be bent in the direction of the two-way arrow A (Fig. 4). The cantilever latch arm extends in the insertion direction of the connector as evident below. Like the positioning flanges 34 and 36, the top of the latch arm was also chamfered.

Hereinafter, the operation of the panel mounting system of the present invention will be described. The connector 10 is inserted into the opening 12 in the panel 14 in the first straight direction along the axis in the direction of the arrow B from the lower side of the panel (FIG. 1). The positioning flanges 34, 36 and the stop flange 38 extend out of the housing in the radial direction of the direction. When the connector is inserted into the opening, the positioning flange 34 passes through the positioning slot 18 and the positioning flange 36 goes through the positioning slot until all positioning flanges are out of the upper side 14a of the panel. Pass 16. At this point, at least two stop flanges 38 on opposite sides of the latch arm abut against the lower side 14b of the panel to form the insertion position of the connector as shown in FIG. In this insertion position, the latch arm 40 retracts inwardly by engagement with the edge of the opening 12 between the positioning slots 16, 18.

Once the connector 10 is inserted into the insertion position shown in Fig. 2, the connector has the final latching shown in Fig. 3 in the second straight direction indicated by the arrow C, which is generally perpendicular to the insertion direction B. It is moved until the position is reached (Fig. 2). In the latching position, the latch arm 40 is aligned with the positioning slot 18, and the flexible latch arm "snaps" outward back into the positioning slot to secure the connector in its final latching position. In this final position, the positioning flanges 34, 36 abut the upper side 14a of the panel 14 and the stop flange 38 abuts the lower side 14b of the panel. Therefore, the positioning flange and the stop flange axially fix the connector in the opening in the panel, and the latch arm 40 secures the connector radially in the opening.

5-8 show a second embodiment of an electrical connector 10a implementing the inventive concept. The same reference numerals corresponding to the same components described above with respect to the connector shown in Figs. 1 to 4 are given in Figs.

With this in mind, the connector 10a includes a one-piece housing 20a having a pair of opposing side walls 24. The positioning flanges 34a, 34b protrude from the opposing side walls 24. The stop flange 38 also protrudes from the two side walls 24. As in the first embodiment, the stop flange is spaced apart axially and transversely from the positioning flange. The integrally formed latch arm 40a is also installed on one of the side walls. The latch arm is cantilevered from one of the stop flanges and has a latch protrusion 41 at the distal end. The latch arm 40a extends generally parallel to the panel and generally perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the connector into the panel. A protector bar 39 is attached to the stop flange 38 and extends parallel to the latch arm 40a. The protective bar 39 helps to prevent the latch protrusion 41 from being removed from the positioning slot 16 and prevents the latch arm 40a from breaking.

7 shows the connector 10a inserted into the opening 12 of the panel 14. The opening is long in length and has a pair of radially extending positioning slots 16a, 16b into which the positioning flanges 34a, 34b of the connector 10a are inserted into the insertion position shown in FIG. At least one positioning flange 34b is smaller than the other positioning flange 34a, so that polarization protection in the panel has at least one positioning slot 16b smaller than the other positioning slots 16a. provide protection. In the insertion position, the stop flange 38 and the protective bar 39 (FIG. 6) abut against the opposite side of the panel 14 at the side visible in FIG. The latch protrusion 41 abuts against the opposite side of the panel such that the latch arm 40a is bent or "turned over".

The connector 10a is moved from the insertion position of FIG. 7 to the final latching position of FIG. In this position, the panel 4 is interposed between the positioning flanges 34a and 34b and the stop flange 38. In this final latching position, the latch projection 41 is snapped into one of the positioning slots 16b as shown in FIG. 8 by the energy stored in the curved latch arm 40a. By designing the latching protrusion 41 to snap into the existing positioning slot 16b, the positioning slots 16a and 16b can be latched into the positioning slot 16b. In addition to being fitted, it may be used to allow positioning flanges 34a and 34b to pass through panel 14. The fewer slots provided, the harder the panel and the lower the manufacturing cost.

9-13 show a third embodiment of an electrical connector 10c incorporating the inventive concept. Again, the same reference numerals corresponding to the same components described above for the first two embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 8 are given in Figs.

Specifically, the connector 10c includes a one-piece housing 20c having opposing side walls 24. Three positioning flanges 34 (FIG. 10) protrude from one of the side walls 24 and two positioning flanges 34 protrude from the opposing side walls 24. As shown in FIG. The pair of stop flanges 38 protrude from each opposing side wall 24. In the connector 10c, the integrally shaped flexible latch arm is in the form of a latch bar 40c that is integral with and extends between the two stop flanges 38, as clearly shown in FIGS. Is provided. The latch protrusion 41 is supported on the tab 42 extending inward from the center of the latch bar 40c. The latch protrusion 41 protrudes into the panel in the insertion direction of the connector. The latch bar 40c is flanged so that the latch bar 41 can be twisted along the two-way arrow D around the longitudinal axis E of the latch bar 40c (FIG. 9) when the latch protrusion 41 abuts the panel 14. Thinner than (38).

11 has an elongate opening 12 with a plurality of radially extending positioning slots 16 on its side. Three positioning slots are provided on one side of the opening to receive three positioning flanges 34 (FIG. 10) on one side of the connector, and two positioning slots 16 on two sides on opposite sides of the connector. It is provided on the opposite side of the opening to receive the set flange 34 (Fig. 9). The asymmetrical arrangement of the positioning flanges and corresponding positioning slots 16 ensures the correct polarization of the connector 10c with respect to the panel 14. The connector is inserted into the opening in the insertion direction indicated by the arrow B in FIGS. 9 and 10. Once the connector is inserted into the opening 12, the positioning flange 34 passes through the positioning slot 16 until the stop flange 38 abuts the side of the panel 14 opposite the insertion direction of the connector. . When the connector reaches the insertion position, the latch protrusion 41 abuts against the opposite side of the panel and is bent or "turned over" by the torsional movement of the latch bar 40c.

After the connector 10c is inserted into the insertion position in the opening 12 in the first straight direction, the connector is shown in a second straight direction generally parallel to the panel as indicated by arrows C in FIGS. 12 and 13. Is moved to the final latching position as shown. In the final latching position, the panel is sandwiched between the positioning flange 34 and the stop flange 38. In the final position, the latch protrusion 41 is snapped into one of the positioning slots 16 by the torsional movement of the latch bar 40c as shown in FIG. 12 by the energy stored in the flexible latch bar 40c. To fit or lock the connector to its final position. In the present embodiment, the latch protector 41 is positioned more than the positioning slot 12 so that a limited degree of "floating" of the connector 10c is allowed in the panel opening 12 for mating in the invisible state. It is small and the outer dimensions of the sidewalls 24, 26 are smaller than the opening 12 in the panel 14. However, panel opening 12 and positioning slot 16 are dimensioned such that connector 10c fits tighter within opening 12.

It will be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and central characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the above examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention should not be limited to the details set forth herein.

The present invention provides a new and improved system capable of mounting or securing an electrical connector in a panel without occupying a large area on the panel or enlarging the size of the electrical connector.

Claims (34)

A system for mounting an electrical connector in a panel, A panel having first and second side surfaces, and an opening in which at least one positioning slot extends in a radial direction, From one side of the panel to at least one radially extending positioning flange is insertable in a first straight direction into an insertion position in the opening in the panel and through the positioning slot of the opening when inserted into the opening. And at least one radially extending stop flange spaced axially and transversely from the positioning flange so that the positioning flange abuts the first side of the panel when the positioning flange is out of the second side of the panel. A connector having a housing movable in an opening in the panel in a second straight direction perpendicular to the first straight direction and parallel to the panel from a position to a latching position; Latch arm protruding from the one side of the connector housing such that the housing can engage a latch slot extending radially from an opening in the panel when the housing is in the latching position. System comprising a. The system of claim 1, comprising at least one positioning flange, at least one stop flange, and at least one latch arm on two opposite sides of the connector housing. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning slot comprises a latch slot. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch arm comprises a flexible cantilever latch arm extending parallel to the first straight direction. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of stop flanges at said one side of the connector housing. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of positioning flanges on the one side of the connector housing passing through the plurality of positioning slots in the opening of the panel. 7. The system of claim 6, comprising a plurality of stop flanges on the one side of the connector housing. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch arm comprises a flexible cantilever latch arm extending parallel to the second straight direction. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the latch arm is cantilevered to the stop flange. The system of claim 1, wherein the latch arm comprises a flexible cantilever latch arm extending from the stop flange. 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the flexible cantilevered latch arm includes a latch protrusion coupled within the latch slot. 2. The system of claim 1, comprising at least a pair of stop flanges, wherein the latch arm comprises a flexible latch bar extending between the pair of stop flanges. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the flexible latch bar includes a latch protrusion coupled within the latch slot. delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete delete